Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month at Melody Living

Meet Willie McCray, Melody Living’s assisted living featured resident this month! We love getting to know each of our residents here at Melody Living Colorado Springs and can’t wait for you to meet Willie.
 
Willie was born in Western North Carolina and lived there until she was 12 years old. She and her family then moved to the “rubber capital of the world” also known as Ohio.

Her father was a butcher by trade and her mother was a seamstress. Willie went to high school in Ohio, and after that she attended business school where she met her husband, Dean.

After college graduation, she became a Secretary to the Clerk of Courts, Criminal Division in Ohio City.

This was her main career, until many years later when she went to work for JCPenney’s as a seasonal employee during the holiday season and ended up staying for 17 years!

​She held this job while her husband was traveling as a journalist. Willie and her husband Dean have been married for 58 years. 

Willie has two daughters, one lives here in Colorado and the other lives in South Carolina. She has four grandchildren, three grandsons and one granddaughter. One of her grandsons is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.
 
Her children are her greatest accomplishment. “I see my daughters and how much they have accomplished and how accepting they are in their everyday life.” She considers her husband’s career a great accomplishment as well, from all the traveling to interviewing the Carter’s in The White House.
 
Growing up and throughout her adult life, Willie always had cats. She stated that with her husband traveling and them moving from state to state often, cats were a good low-maintenance option!​

Willie said her favorite place to travel is England as her family is of British origin. She also loves visiting New York City, New England, and anywhere along the East Coast.

Her favorite hobbies include painting and sewing. Willie has beautiful paintings hanging on her walls!
 
A pivotal moment in history that had an impact on Willie was seeing the Liberty Bell. It made her realize what our country had been through. With that being said, the 4th of July is Willie’s favorite holiday. “I will never miss an opportunity to celebrate this country and where I live!”
 
Willie found herself looking at Melody Living for her husband. “We chose this facility for him because we wanted him to get the care he needed. We had heard good references and that it was a nice place to live.

When the decision was made for me to move into a senior living community, it was logical that I moved where my husband was already living. My favorite part about Melody Living is being surrounded by the people here.”
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If Willie could give anybody advice, she would tell them, “Take it one day at a time, don’t be too critical of anything, and always be optimistic. You have to take every day and look for the best.”
 
We can’t wait to share more stories from our amazing residents with you. Luxury assisted senior living is just a tour away, to experience it for yourself, visit our contact page or give us a call at 719.960.4005.